Even within a conference, strength of schedule is not an apples-to-apples comparison.

Members play different calibers of non-conference opponents, hail from different divisions and then play different teams from across the league in the opposite division.

It’s these “other” opponents that can very quietly make a big difference in the outcome of a season, swinging the pendulum one way or the other.

In the ACC’s case, the scheduling of these cross-division foes is on a rotating basis, a scheme that is complicated and involves a long number of years. It’s a lot like marriage.

Take a look the ACC Atlantic and Coastal divisions, power ranked by 2016 cross-division schedules. Rankings take into consideration last year’s performance and prospects for this season via Phil Steele’s 2016 Preseason Top 40.

Potentially a preseason Top 25 team, Louisville will have a better chance of staying ranked by drawing the Blue Devils and Cavaliers. Though Duke did go 8-5 last season, neither it nor Virginia is among Phil Steele’s Top 40 or even Top 57 teams in 2016.

Steele has the Cardinals at No. 21 in his rankings and predicts a No. 3 finish in the top-heavy Atlantic. Alternatively, he has Duke and Virginia at No. 6 and No. 7 respectively in the Coastal.

What’s tricky about evaluating Boston College’s slate is Georgia Tech, a team that went 11-3 in 2014 (capturing the ACC Atlantic) before plummeting to 3-9 last season. Despite success being so recent, Steele predicts the Yellow Jackets will struggle again, to the tune of a No. 5 finish in the division.

That leaves Virginia Tech, a team with a new coach coming off a 7-6 season. Steele has them at No. 43, meaning they won’t likely win any titles, but should be bowl eligible again.

Clemson lost to Georgia Tech as recently as 2014, but that was the season the Yellow Jackets won 11 games. Before that, it was 2011 in Atlanta.

Pitt’s a team that posted a solid 8-5 mark in 2015 and returns eight starters to both sides of the ball. Like the Hokies, they may not be vying for a division title, but they should play in a bowl game. Steele mentions them at No. 35.

The next four teams all have either Florida State or Clemson, both who should be in Top 5 coming in to the season. Steele has the Seminoles at No. 1 and the Tigers at No. 5 while other sources, like ESPN, have the two schools in the opposite order but still in the Top 5.

It amounts to Georgia Tech, Pitt, Miami and North Carolina all playing with a serious one-game disadvantage vs. the rest of the Coastal.

Georgia Tech gets Boston College (3-8 in 2015) in Ireland along with a visit from Clemson. What puts the Yellow Jackets’ schedule a step behind Pitt’s is hosting the top-ranked Tigers as opposed to visiting them.

Georgia Tech’s last win over a Top 5 team came in 2009, when it knocked off No. 4 Virginia Tech on the way to an ACC title.

2016 Cross-Division Opponents: at Florida State and North Carolina State

At the top of the heap is North Carolina, a team that should be either just in or just out of the Top 25 when the season kicks off.

Remaining in the rankings and hitting double-digits again (it posted an 11-3 in 2015) won’t be easy given the Oct. 1 road trip to Tallahassee to face Florida State. That on top of the season opener in Atlanta vs. Georgia.

The Tar Heels last bested a Top 5 team in 2004, when they edged No. 4 Miami (Fla.) at home in Chapel Hill.